Richard B the EMT

I really wish I could figure out how to download (upload, too, for that matter) pictures of the boots that FDNY EMS uses. They are 10 inch high, black and a dull yellow, some kind of ridge like design for toe protection. It is not supposed to be used for anything except where we might come into contact with blood-borne pathogens, along with the new (assigned only a year ago) "turnout" coats and trousers (I don't know or understand the difference between "turnouts" and "bunker" gear, but save that for a different string). Wait one... Isn't that every call we get assigned? We used to use a black leather and fabric "combat" style boot, which we had to keep in a high gloss state. When assigned the new style boot, they never called for the return of the old, which I am allowed to use, and frequently do. Hijacking the string for a short few moments, if your agency uses any type boot, zipper, lace, or laced in zipper style, does the agency have you wear the uniform pants leg sleeves tucked in, bloused out, or simply worn over the boot? FDNY EMS has them worn over the boot, however, I have seen a few of the guys, mostly military vets, wearing them tucked in.

As we all know, no job is finished until the paperwork is done.

I can tie my shoes...

In Canada, is the legal system operating on the premise that an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as we in the US supposedly do? Also, if proven not guilty, as someone pointed out to me regarding a different person's alleged crime, "Where does one go to get their good reputation restored?"

So are we all flush with moral superiority with this story?

OK, was the instructor really trying to demonstrate the Defib unit, or using it as a way to sexually harass the 18 year old female? Wasn't there, don't know all the facts, but I have a leaning towards the harassment side of the question.

We already have numerous TV, radio, and print columnists telling the general population that, to get an ambulance "quicker", tell them someone is having a heart attack, or for the LEOs, tell them there's someone with a firearm. Here in NYC, I will continue hope that financial penalties will be imposed on those who falsely report an incident to, and thru, the 9-1-1 system.

Is HOBET a Canadian thing? And don't forget to say Hi to Bilbo Baggins for me.

Now, my own "anecdotal" experiences with "Demand/Positive Pressure" manually triggered ventilation units, non-specific, as I don't remember the brand names of what I used to use. On the "demand" side, with a mask properly seated and sealed on a patient's face, if the patient started to inhale, the device would push Oxygen at the patient, until the patient stopped inhaling, and the O2 delivery would stop, until the next inhalation. On the "positive pressure" side, we long-timers could, at the push of a button, or a lever on the thing, blow out lungs and distend the abdomen way too easily, as we then delivered "full breaths" as guided by both American Heart Association and American Red Cross training, not the current "just till you get chest rise". Yes, it is a little more difficult to use a Bag Valve Mask, but, as I see it, it does place the patient at less risk of injury from the very equipment being used to save them. Oops, nearly forgot...the regulators had a suction unit attached to them, and the unfortunacy was, they'd deplete the tank really quick, and really didn't have that great a suctioning vacuum available.

This probably might not help. FDNY EMS uses an E-PCR, or Electronic Prehospital Care Report. It is a scannable paper PCR that we put thru a scanner, correct what the machine thinks it is reading, and transmit the information to our billing agency. Then, the paperwork is physically transported to our storage areas at the HQ building, where the lawyers can subpoena it if needed. While I personally don't really like the thing, we're on our second vendor's version, as the chiefs have more sway than do I.

The FDNY uniform doesn't call for a US Flag, but what I have seen supports an opine already on this string. Departmental patch centered on the left shoulder, one inch below the shoulder seam, a US Flag patch of the star field to the right type, also sewn onto the center of the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. My personal preference is the 7 button style "military" type uniform shirt, with "baked in" seams, and velcro fastening breast pockets. I offer the Galls catalog for examples, while advising I am neither supporting them or their competitors. Place the level of training patch one inch above the left pocket. Or... As an alternate, departmental patch one inch below the center of the left shoulder sleeve seam, level of training patch one inch below the center of the right shoulder sleeve seam, with a regular, star field to the left, American flag sewn in an inch above the flap of the left pocket. If the service uses a badge (PLEASE DO NOT DRAG ME INTO THAT ARGUMENT AGAIN!), then put the flag one inch above the flap of the right pocket. There was a time prior to the EMS/FDNY merger that a number of us wore a small US flag under the nametag, which in turn was under the badge. The flag was then commonly available for just this purpose and display.

OK, my last posting in this string was intended as a joke, but getting serious now, could someone define HOBIT for me? I really don't have a clue.

The only events I worked on O/T were one time on the 9th Avenue Food Festival, and at least 3 times in the Family Reunion Area at the end of the New York Marathon. This year, I didn't hear of any problems at the Puerto Rican Day Parade, but heard of a 12 year old girl killed by a hit and run driver in, I think, Newark, NJ, at a different national origin pride parade (sorry I forget the specific).

OK, I have not taken the NREMT tests. I do mention that I am in my department's EMT refresher at this time, and am trying to keep tabs on both NY State and FDNY regs, which sometimes run counter to each other. My training is American Heart Association, with 30 compressions to 2 breaths, (FR2 brand) AED activated and analyzing/advising shock ASAP. Can someone who has taken the American Red Cross training advise me, and the rest of us, what differences exist between the AHA and ARC "professional rescuer" CPR training? (Yes, I am kind of hijacking this string.)

I know this is not a universal thing, due to the time honored "Local Protocols", but all my dispatchers, as well as the call takers, are minimally EMT-Bs.

Lizard Slinging? Basic and advanced? Lizard Slinging? I know of the Geico Gekko, and of a few of their competitors referring to lizard disfunction, but...Lizard Slinging?

??? Lizard slinging?

Now I am working totally on memory, as I stated that I used to work with those flip cards. If I remember correctly, they did have us ask if the patient had any allergy to aspirin, if yes or unknown, we didn't advise anyone to take it.

I spent 11 years in the NYC EMS Communications Bureau/FDNY EMS EMD. I think this might have some weight in this discussion. Someone called 9-1-1 for an ambulance, and the call went to an Automatic Call Distribution Operator, a civilian NYPD communications specialist. On their initial interview of the caller, determining EMS was requested, would push a button, and the call became a 3 way between the "ACD", the EMS Call Receiving Operator (ACD, an outdated term, by the way, but that is what we were called back then), and the caller. What information the ACD had, was sent by the ACD to the CRO via the compu-link from NYPD's "SPRINT" to EMS' "MedStar" computer systems (all terminology might not be the current names for specific equipment, I am using the terminology from 1997), and the CRO would confirm with the caller such information as the address of the call, was the patient awake, was the patient breathing, and what was going on that an ambulance was needed. This system might have seemed to be taking a lot of time, but with an address and call type, the CRO might still be talking with the caller, have the call entered into the Computer Assisted Dispatch system within the MedStar computer system, and the dispatcher in the next room might already have sent the information to the nearest available BLS, ALS (or both) ambulance(s) via the radio/computer link, with the ambulance(s) already on the way, while the ACD was still on the phone with the caller, giving first aid instructions. If needed, MedStar, at certain priority or call types, would notify the FDNY "FireStar" computer that a medical "First Responder" Engine company should also respond. Throughout all of this, the PD ACD would still be online, adding whatever information they felt would be needed for the "Sprint" "assignment history, for an NYPD Dispatcher to advise the LEOs who might be assigned the call. Now, a head count. We are talking 2 separate call-taker and dispatcher systems for the EMS and the PD, and 5 separate borough Fire Dispatch centers, where the call-taker also dispatches the fire apparatus. Clunky? Yes, but it works surprisingly well, with room for improvement always there. All CROs and Dispatchers for the NYC EMS Communications Bureau/FDNY EMS EMD were then, and are now, a minimum of NYS DoH EMTs, and a few Paramedics, and use a "flip-book" similar to Dr. Jeff Clawson's dispatching algorithms (those interested in this algorithm can use, and are encouraged to use, the search engine of their choice for information). FDNY EMS EMD is under the authority of a committee of Medical Control Physicians, so if they decided to have the instructions for aspirin administering to be told to a caller, under specific, and admittedly "cookie cutter" situations, the CRO would be covered under that Medical Advisory Committee's licences.

Coincidentally, I got this today, thought it needed your posting as company! Enjoy, all. http://d21c.com/terri1/caroline.swf

I was under the impression that assault of a uniformed EMS person in New York State was considered a class D Felony, meaning the offender potentially could go to the "Grey-Bar Hotel" for a 7 year "vacation". However, if a patient, the family member(s), the friend(s), or nosy passers-by threaten me or my partner when I am trying to help a patient, "Partner" and I will leave, while radioing for LEO back-up. The headache of that is, the LEOs don't get assigned to all EMS calls, as we don't get assigned to theirs, and we can and do get hurt while our dispatchers landline the PD communications office to request assistance. As I think I have mentioned in a different string, an unruly patient with AOB punched me in the face, I signaled the 10-13 (EMS Needs PD Forthwith), and had the other 2 BLS ambulances, both ALS ambulances, and the supervisor in the district arrive 5 minutes prior to the PD, who only responded when they saw all these EMS vehicles go down a dead-end street, and went to check THAT condition out! They never were told over their radios that we had transmitted the "13", they only heard when we were face to face with them. PS- Despite my protests, no charges were filed!

This is a gag I have been hearing from back in the late 1960s, during a time when a lot of jets were being hijacked to Havana, Cuba. Cuban born musician/band leader/actor/TV producer Desi Arnaez, late husband of Lucille Ball, was allegedly detained, when he saw comedian, and violin player, Jack Benny, at JFK Airport, and called out to him, "Hi, Jack!"

I think it is more embarrassing to not bring in equipment that ends up being needed, than to bring it and not need it. As for the Press Corps, "If it bleeds, it leads." They would go after all EMTs and Paramedics due to the errors of one or two, and I think the phrase is "Being tarred with the same brush". If one of a group does something either embarrassingly or dangerously dumb, then all of the group are embarrassingly or dangerously dumb. I had some of that, when I worked for the summer of 1970 at a McDonald's. One of the other workers was angry that I would take a job slinging hamburgers, due to me being Jewish, as, by the "fact" that I was Jewish meant I was financially rich, and was taking the money away from a "more deserving" African- American or Puerto Rican. Mind you, I was the only Jew working that store that summer, she was the only one of Italian decent, but I didn't start mouthing off with "Mafia" jokes at her expense. (All these years later, Rosie <not O'Donnel!> I still have a part of my heart that really hates you!)

Per training, local and state protocols under which I work, even if going to a frequent flyer that always signs the medical release, I go up with O2, Defib, and suction, as well as the steth and BP cuff. If that patient had been in arrest, per my protocols, the EMT and Paramedic of this tale would be fired, stripped of certification by the state, and probably looking at, to a minimum, Wrongful Death charges being filed against them. Were I on that jury, I'd probably find them guilty, at least as far as the description previously shown by the original poster goes.

Is that not a type critter from Middle Earth? Forgive me, just being silly.